Australian Historic Motorfest The 1998 Shannon’s Australian Historic Motorfest was the first event of its kind in Australia. The event was similar to overseas events that celebrate the history of motorsport such as the Goodwood festival of speed held in England each year. The Shannon’s Historic Motorfest Honored 20 Legends of Australian Motorsport, and reunited them with the cars and bikes they where made famous in. The legends were; Kevin Bartlett driving an Elfin Imp, Kevin is a multiple Gold Star Winner as well as wining both Sandown and Bathurst endurance events. Sir Jack Brabham Driving a Cooper climax and a Repco Brabham BT19, Jack is most famous for winning three World Drivers Championships. The last of which was done in a car of his own design. Peter Brock Driving a Torana XU-1, Peter is a nine times Bathurst and Sandown winner a feat that will probably never be equaled. Peter has also competed in round Australia rallies and at Le Mans. Frank Coad Driving a Vauxhall Cresta, was the first winner of the Armstong 500 and held lap records at Winton, Hume weir and many other circuits. Diana Gaze Driving a MG TC, Diana was married to the late Lex Davidson but is an accomplished racing driver in her own right. Diana still competes in many Hill Climbs and sprint meetings. Tony Gaze Tony was Australia’s most highly decorated Spitfire pilot during WW2. After the war Tony moved to motor racing in Europe where he drove cars such as HWM, Jaguar and Alta. Ian Geoghegan Driving a Ford Mustang, Pete as he is known is a five time winner of Australian Touring Car Championship, four in a row in his Mustang. Leo Geoghegan Driving Chrysler Charger, Leo successes came most in open wheelers winning the Australian Drivers Championship but played a major development role in the Pacer and the Charger for Chrysler. John Harvey Driving a A9X Torana, John was most famous for winning two Australian Sports Car titles in a McLaren Repco V8. Graham Hoinville Driving a Elfin Mono, was a leading Australian rally navigator and was a leading CAMS administrator. Andrew Johnson Riding a Honda RC45 Superbike. Andrew set 27 major lap records during his career and still holds 12 of them. He was the first man to be clocked at more than 300 Km/Hr down Bathurst’s Conrod Straight. Keith Laity Driving a Ford V8 Special, Keith was one of Australia’s pioneers of motosport competing in events before World War Two. Jim McKeown Driving a Lotus Cortina, Jim was one of the original members of the Neptune Racing Team. Jim most famous win at Winton was in 1964, when he won 16 lap Winton Trophy for Touring Cars. Bruce McPhee Driving a Monaro, Bruce was a top touring car competitor in NSW during the fifties and sixties behind the wheel of a Holden FE. He won Bathurst in 1968. Alan Moffat Driving a Triumph TR3A, Alan is a Four times Australian Touring Car Champion and Four times winner of Bathurst and Five times winner of Sandown. Lou Molina Driving a MG TA Special, Lou began his career in 1938 and competed in three Armstong 500 where he rolled his car five laps from the finish and still managed to finish third. Maurie Quicey Riding a Manx Norton, Maurie raced in the early 1920’s. He won Nine Australian Championships, three of them Juniors championship. Barry Smith Riding a Yamaha 350, Barry is a two times winner of the world F3 Championship in 1979 and 1981 on a 250cc Yamaha. Bib Stllwell Driving a Brabham BT31, Bib won the Australian Drivers championship on four occasions in a Repco Brabham and was twice runner up in the Australian Grand Prix. The Patron of the event was bestowed upon Norm Beechey. Norm is one of Australia’s tin top legends. Norm was twice Australian Touring Car Champion in 165 in a Ford Mustang and in 1970 in a Holden Monaro and won a total of 15 individual State Touring Car Titles and countless other race wins and lap records. The event saw a multitude of historic, classic and modern vehicles complete flying laps around the circuit. The event finished with a massive Parade of vehicles which were on display all weekend from various car clubs.
The Ledgends of the motorfest gather.
